Silent synapses during development of thalamocortical inputs
Open accessAbstract
During development, activity-dependent mechanisms are thought to contribute to the refinement of topographical projections from the thalamus to the cortex. Because activity-dependent increases in synaptic strength may contribute to the stabilization of synaptic connections, we have explored the mechanisms of long-term potentiation (LTP) at thalamocortical synapses in rat somatosensory (barrel) cortex. During early postnatal development (postnatal days 2-5), we find that a significant proportion of thalamocortical synapses are functionally silent and that these are converted to functional synapses during LTP. Silent synapses disappear by postnatal day 8-9, the exact time at which the susceptibility of these synapses to LTP is lost. These findings suggest that the activity-dependent conversion of silent to functional synapses due to correlated pre- and postsynaptic activity may contribute to the early development and refinement of thalamocortical inputs to cortex.
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NMDARs are localized very early to the postsynaptic membrane, but transition to a more mature synapse state is characterized by recruitment of AMPARs to the synapse.
“N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDAR) are localized very early to the postsynaptic membrane, but transition to a more mature synapse state is characterized by recruitment of alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid receptors (AMPAR) to the synapse.71, 72, 73, 74”
From A role for synaptic plasticity in the adolescent development of executive function (2013) · cites this paper as [73]
Expression of AMPARs on the postsynaptic membrane is induced by NMDAR-mediated long term potentiation (LTP).
“Expression of AMPARs on the postsynaptic membrane is induced by NMDAR-mediated long term potentiation (LTP), the same mechanism originally described in hippocampus for learning and memory.73, 74, 75, 76”
From A role for synaptic plasticity in the adolescent development of executive function (2013) · cites this paper as [73]
In early development, many synapse types are morphologically intact and can release glutamate, but most glutamatergic postsynapses on excitatory neurons are not yet functional.
“While many synapse types are morphologically intact and capable of releasing glutamate, the majority of glutamaterigic post-synapses on excitatory neurons are not yet functional (Ashby and Isaac, 2011; Isaac et al., 1997; Petralia et al., 1999).”
From Pathogenic SYNGAP1 Mutations Impair Cognitive Development by Disrupting Maturation of Dendritic Spine Synapses (2012) · cites this paper as Isaac et al., 1997
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- Authors
- Isaac, J. T. R., Crair, M. C., Nicoll, R. A., & Malenka, R. C.
- Affiliations
- University of California, San Francisco (US)
- Corresponding author
- Malenka, Robert C.
- Venue
- Neuron
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 1997-02
- Volume
- 18
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 269-280
- ISSN
- 0896-6273 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2158126393
- Cited by
- 507
- References
- 42
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 20 · 2012: 16
- FWCI
- 11.94
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Neuron (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural dynamics and brain function
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
- Keywords
- silent synapses, thalamocortical synapses, long-term potentiation, synaptic development, activity-dependent synaptic plasticity, somatosensory barrel cortex, postnatal development
- MeSH terms
- Action Potentials, Age Factors, Animals, Animals, Newborn, Membrane Potentials, Synaptic Transmission, Somatosensory Cortex, Synapses, Thalamus, Long-Term Potentiation, Patch-Clamp Techniques, Rats
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